WO2017081430A1

WO2017081430A1 - Instantly erecting and lowering box for multiple usage

Info

Publication number: WO2017081430A1
Application number: PCT/GB2015/000328
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Andrew NOMICAS
Original assignee: Nomicas Paul Andrew
Priority date: 2015-11-12
Filing date: 2015-12-15
Publication date: 2017-05-18
Also published as: GB201519971D0

Abstract

An instantly erecting and collapsing box derives from a planar box precursor layout and is formed of at least twenty one sections, sixteen of which are triangular (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 19, 20) and (21) and four being rectangular (10, 11, 12, 13) and a central square or other base (1), in a preferred embodiment, the base structure comprises a plurality of flaps and sections attaching directly or tentatively to the base area, to a form a plurality of exterior and interior surfaces which form structural panels when erected, folded or folded over other sections and held in place, these are then able to be instantly collapsed and erected at will, due to the inward tendency of the folding and scoring of the said panels, with all sections folding simultaneously due to this tendency of the folds to fall inwardly and the affixed side flaps holding four triangular sections between them in an affixed manner, boxes of slightly differing sizes may be used in an upturned manner as closures or lids for lower boxes and additional side flaps may also form lids or closures thereon.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

OF

PAUL ANDREW NOMICAS FOR

INSTANTLY ERECTING AND LOWERING BOX FOR MULTIPLE USAGE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a box that may be used for most known requirements of packaging, including: goods transportation, storage of articles, retail shopping environments and delivery.

Background

Boxes come in many forms and are provided for brief disposable use with some products or processes and also are designed to be used several times or may be recycled. Cardboard boxes are industrially prefabricated boxes, primarily used for packaging goods and materials. Specialists in industry seldom use the term cardboard because it does not denote a specific material.

The term cardboard may refer to a variety of heavy paper-like materials, including card stock, corrugated fiberboard or paperboard. The meaning of the term may depend on the locale, contents, construction and personal choice.

In business and industry, material producers, container manufacturers, packaging engineers and standards organizations, try to use more specific terminology. There is still not complete and uniform usage. Often the term "cardboard" is avoided because it does not define any particular material.

Broad divisions of paper-based packaging materials are: Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets.

Paperboard, sometimes known as cardboard, is generally thicker (usually over 0.25 mm or 10 points) than paper. According to ISO standards, paperboard is a paper with a basis weight (grammage) above 224 g/m², but there are exceptions. Paperboard can be single- or multi-ply. Corrugated fiberboard sometimes known as corrugated board or corrugated cardboard is a combined paper-based material consisting of a fluted corrugated medium and one or two flat linerboards. Corrugated fiberboard is a paper-based material consisting of a fluted corrugated sheet and one or two flat linerboards. It is made on "flute lamination machines" or "corrugators" and is used in the manufacture of shipping containers and corrugated boxes.

The corrugated medium and linerboard board both are made of kraft containerboard, a paperboard material usually over 0.01 inches (0.25 mm) thick. Corrugated fiberboard is sometimes called corrugated cardboard, although cardboard might be any heavy paper-pulp based board.

There are also multiple names for containers:

A shipping container made of corrugated fiberboard is sometimes called a "cardboard box", a "carton" or a "case".

A folding carton made of paperboard is sometimes called a "cardboard box"

A set-up box is made of a non-bending grade of paperboard and is sometimes called a "cardboard box".

Drink boxes made of paperboard laminates, are sometimes called "cardboard boxes", "cartons" or "boxes".

The first commercial paperboard (not corrugated) box was produced in England in 1817. Cardboard box packaging was made the same year in Germany.

The pre-cut cardboard or paperboard box from 1890 was enabled by flat pieces manufactured in bulk that folded into boxes. These may be known as preformed or prefabricated paperboard boxes. Applying this idea to corrugated boxboard was a straightforward development when the material became available around the turn of the twentieth century.

Corrugated cardboard variants (also called pleated) paper was patented in England in 1856, and used as a liner for tall hats, but corrugated boxboard was not patented and used as a shipping material until 20 December 1871. The patent was issued to Albert Jones of New York City for single-sided (single- face) corrugated board. Jones used the corrugated board for wrapping bottles and glass lantern chimneys. The first machine for producing large quantities of corrugated board was built in 1874 by G. Smyth, and in the same year Oliver Long improved upon Jones's design by inventing corrugated board with liner sheets on both sides. This was corrugated cardboard as we know it today.

Boxes of this type are mass produced on a worldwide basis and are still produced as a cut sectional plat template, with various tabs and sections which fold together to form an erected box. The user takes the flat template version and folds it to form the box; this may or may not include a need to add a strong tape at this stage to add strength to the final product, for use.

Boxes that are flat and then erected by the user also are used in more delicate product and printed retail versions, these may often be folded by machine or hand in a factory environment to form packaging, which is often discarded. In modern shopping environments boxes are widely used for the transport of goods and many lower range supermarkets encourage buyers to put their shopping including foods into boxes for transport to an awaiting vehicle for transit, instead of bags.

They will often use boxes which have come from other areas and are being used again for this new purpose of moving goods in short distance.

Cardboard or other boxes are often kept for re-use and this may include all areas of retail or storage in warehousing and delivery of good to retails environments or when moving property or house.

The issue with boxes of these variant types and moreover with larger more dense corrugated cardboard boxes, is the fact that they take up a large amount of space once erected or formed for use.

Thus, once boxes have been emptied or used and the person wishes to save or store them to use again, there is a matter of having to remove and tape or securing material from the exterior or interior, collapse or unfold the various flaps and folds used to form the cuboid body, which is very time consuming indeed if you have many boxes.

The alternative is having to try and accommodate the formed or erected boxes as they remain, which is not a cost effective or practical solution to any business or individual.

A further issue and problem faced by current and known cardboard or similar boxes, is the need to 'make them' or erect and form them.

They can come as a flat 'stack' of boxes in a number and the person is expected to take a flat box template and form it by hand. These often require additional work, certainly when in relation to the larger storage, transport or warehouse boxes.

This additional work may include having to staple the flaps and folds of the forming box together or the use of strong packaging tapes, moreover to the bottom or underside of the box and onto the folding sides, to add some strength for the expected load that is going to be placed within.

The time consumption for this action can be a difficulty within certain environments and can actually be accounted as a loss of earnings for a business due to the fact that a person has to be dedicated for long period of time to processing and forming boxes for use.

The present invention aims to provide a solution to these issues of forming or erecting boxes and its time consumption and also its tedious nature, as well as the problem of trying to store erect boxes for re-use and the amount of space this requires within a building and the need and time required to deconstruct and flatten the boxes to enable a lesser amount of space being taken up.

This is provided within the present invention by having a box which comes preformed ready for erection but in a flat form and is simply formed instantly within seconds, by means of a collapsing and rising folded structure, which also enables it to be flattened and re-erected in seconds for re-use over and over and minimal space storage.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a box in a collapsed flat condition, of a single planar section of cardboard. This flat section of cardboard is derived from at least 13 shaped sections and preferably 21 shaped sections, which each have at least one folding scored or hinged line enabling them to be formed as a collective into a box.

The box which may also be referred to as a carton; has a base which would be the largest section. This base may be square or rectangular as a preferred shape.

To the perimeter edges of the base, there are two hinged lines which are the same in length as the base length, which will go on to form the sides of the box or carton. These two hinged or scored lines fold vertically presenting two rectangular side sections thus and these rectangular vertical side sections are then able to accommodate four triangular sections which are able to be placed behind them on all four corners of the base. As these triangular corner sections, extend from folding frontal and rear panel sections, these frontal and rear sections are also made vertical as the triangular portions are positioned.

Thus, a pre-completed box shape is temporarily formed, with further folding sections to yet be completed.

To hold the four corner triangular sections in place, a rectangular or similar flat section may be folded over the top of the respective panel on both adjacent side sections, these rectangular or similar flaps then may be held in place using a suitable adhesive, thus the pre-completed box shape is held in place and added strength from the four triangular corner sections being sandwiched between the glued flaps of the respective panels that have been folded over them, which forms the sides of the box once completed.

These folded rectangular or similar flap sections may incorporate a hole cut out which follows through both over folded sections, which forms a holding area or handle for the box or carton once completed. To the frontal and rear areas are now two sections which have at least 3 triangular folding or hinged sections which collapse and fold in unison, due to angled and hinged scoring which fold inwardly. This is presented as a larger single triangle section which extends from the base edge as a full width of the base edge length and proceeds to a triangular section which is a proportioned obtuse triangle. The obtuse triangle sections extend from the full frontal and rear width of the base and to the angles folding lines of the obtuse triangle are two scalene sections which all fold on each of their sides. Thus a section of a larger obtuse triangle and two smaller but equally sized scalene triangles which all fold inwardly, is presented from the front and rear of the base. These become vertical when the triangular sections were folded behind the rectangular folding flaps of the side sections, as they are all connected and thus must move together in unison when erected or collapsed.

Once in place a box is formed, which can perform as a container and added strength is provided, optionally in the preferred embodiment.

In the preferred embodiment, the box or carton would have an additional folding panel of triangular sections, which appears to mirror the frontal and rear triangular sections and extends from them, to form a panel which may be folded over inside the box, forming a second structural layer accomplishment for added strength.

Once this box is formed and the sections are erected and the side panels are glued into place, a box or carton is formed for use. If supplied pre-formed an adhesive may pre-applied or if supplied to the consumer in a flat format, a pull off adhesive pad may be provided to all required sections. This fully formed box or carton may then be collapsed in an instant by pushing the two rectangular side sections inwards.

These two rectangular side sections are able to then fold inwards owing to the fact that the frontal and rear panels, which are formed from the myriad of folding triangular sections, fold and collapse inwardly due to the directional trajectory of the folds making them collapse inward.

The collapsing is also possible due to the rectangular side panels being hinged at their bottom line where they adjoin the base section.

As the side rectangular sections are pressed inwardly toward the central line of the box or carton opening, the frontal and rear sections thus must collapse and fold inwardly.

As the rectangular side sections are collapsed until their ultimate edges touch or almost tough together, the frontal and rear folded sections, collapse fully underneath them and the box falls flat into a planar state. This is the form in which the product would be presented when purchased in the preferred embodiment. The user would be presented with the pre-constructed box, in the preferred embodiment but in its flattened collapsed form. These may be provided as a group of boxes of the same or differing capacity and size. The user would then hold the rectangular or other suitably working shaped side sections, and pull them together in an angled upward motion, or open them to an instant vertical stance, the folded triangular end sections would then have to follow as they must erect also at the same instance, due to their folded sections and them all being a single part of the box structure as a whole. Once ail four panels which form the vertical walls of the box or carton are erected vertically the box can be used, filled and emptied repeatedly, or used as a product presentation or for short term transit of goods and long term storage, as examples of many variable uses.

If the user wishes to empty the box or carton and then store it for re-use, they then close the side sections and the box flattens.

This is an action of closing, pressing, and / or folding the two rectangular, or other shaped, side sections simultaneously toward the centre line of the box opening and the frontal and rear collapsing panels thus fold inwardly also and outwardly when the box is erected once again.

Due to the inward directional folding of the larger obtuse triangle and its accompanying scalene sections also folding inwards due to their hinged lines forming the upper angles of the inwardly folding obtuse section, the frontal and rear folding sections collapse toward the central point of the box or carton interior and as these are more extensive collapsing angles, they fold beneath the side sections as the box or carton as a whole folds flat.

During this whole process the only action required by the user, if the boxes are provided to them in the pre-constructed flat form, is to simply pull the side / handle sections upward simultaneously.

To collapse the box, this simple action is reversed and the side sections are closed inwardly.

To provide a lid or top for the box, a second slightly larger box, which has a sufficiently slightly wider opening to the other box may be provided. This may be thus turned upside down and its wider opening rim is passed over the slightly smaller opening rim of the box below and thus when pressed downwardly forms a closure or lid.

These may, therefore also be used as a lid on some occasions or as a second box on others. All having the same collapsing and folding abilities and holding or handle areas.

A square or other shaped flat piece of cardboard, which is suitably sized to slide inside the box to the bottom, may also be inserted to the box or boxes to add additional base strength. This may also be provided along with the flat packed ready boxes.

The boxes may be provided in equal or different increasing sizes within a single retail or wholesale pack, when purchased, the larger of which may be used as lids for the smaller versions, according to sizes suitably selected. This enables the boxes to remain within the theme of the single instant box method, without having to add additional accessories to achieve an overall or improved or finished product.

By having a slightly larger box or a succession of boxes that increase in size they may all act as the subject carrier or container or some as this function and some as lids for the other smaller boxes, each using the next sized box ascending or descending in size.

To the outer side and holding flaps may be additional sections which can also be folded over the opening area of the box to act as closing means or a 'lid'.

This is shown in the accompanying Figures.

Brief description of figures

Figures 1 show an example of the instant erecting box as a dimensional view in a fully completed stage.

Figures 2 show an example of the instant erecting box as a dimensional view in a first stage of folding and collapse.

Figures 3 show an example of the instant erecting box as a dimensional view in a continued stage of folding and collapse.

Figures 4 show an example of the instant erecting box as a dimensional view in a fully folded or collapsed stage.

Figures 5 show an example of the instant erecting box as a dimensional view in a fully completed stage with side flaps in process of being folded flat to the sides.

Figures 6 show an example of the instant erecting box as a plan view in a pre- assemble stage, which each folding section shown.

Figures 7 show an example of the instant erecting box as a dimensional view in a fully completed stage which additional side flap sections used as closure panels.

Figures 8 show an example of the instant erecting box as a dimensional view in a fully completed stage A, being slid over the top of a smaller fully completed box C, providing itself A, as a lid or enclosure method.

Figures 9 show an example of the instant erecting box as a dimensional view with an additional base section being inserted for added strength.

Detailed description of figures

A typical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 1 and comprise a planar base 1 which would have four sides of equal length in the preferred embodiment. This may also be varied as a rectangular base having two sides which are of a longer length in another embodiment.

To the base 1 upper side are a number of triangular sections 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 which are proportioned to all fold successfully to construct the upper folding box section which is folded inwardly, as shown in Figure 1.

These sections 5, 6, and 7, have been folded over sections 2, 3 and 4, as shown in Figure 6, to provide an internal foldable flap.

This foldable flap of 5, 6 and 7 is held in place by passing triangular sections 8 and 9 underneath side flaps 11D and 12 D as shown in Figure 5. Sections 8 and 9; are shown as 8D and 9D in Figure 5.

As the side flaps 11 D and 12D, in Figure 5 are folded over 8D and 9D and held in place by adhesive methods, the folding section comprising of 5, 6 and 7 is held vertically in place from the base 1.

This assembly technique is repeated on the opposite side of the box or carton using triangular sections 14, 15 and 16, being made vertical to the planar flat base 1 and its adjoined sections 17 and 18 being inserted beneath side flaps 11 D and 12D, as shown in Figure 5. 17 and 18 being shown as 17D and 18D in Figure 5.

These sections 14, 15 and 16 are stood vertically of the base 1 and have further adjoined triangular sections 19, 20 and 21 folded over them and folded internally of the box opening to provide an internal flap.

Side internal walls are completed by none sectional panels 10 and 13 which are held vertically by means of their attached side flaps 11 and 12 being folded over triangular sections 8, 9, 17 and 18 which are inserted beneath side flaps 11 and 12 which are closed onto them and held using an adhesive method.

Thus a box is erected which has a base 1 and upper and lower triangular sections, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and lower triangular sections 14, 15, 16, 19, 20 and 21 which all fold inwardly to collapse and may be re-erected when the reverse action is applied. The sections 8, 9, 17 and 18 enable attachment of these upper and lower sections due to them being held between the outer side of side flaps 13 and 10 and beneath the underside of side flaps 11 and 12, held with an adhesive method. Thus, as side flap sections 10, 11, 12 and 13 are pushed or collapsed inwardly, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, multiple folding triangular sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 14, 16, 19, 20 and 21, which are folded to collapse inwardly, fold continually in an instant action until flat, as shown in Figure 4.

If this process is reversed and the side flap sections 10, 11, 12 and 13 are raised from the flat position, the multiple folding sections, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 and 14, 15, 16 19 20 and 21 become vertical again.

During both collapsing and erecting processes of the box, triangular sections 8, 9, 17 and 18 remain static and do not move as they are held between 12 and 13 and 10 and 11 with aide from an adhesive application.

During the collapsing and folding process in its first stages sections 5A, 6A and 7A fold inwardly, as shown in Figure 2.

This is repeated on the opposite folding section 14A, 15A and 16A, when side flap sections 12A and 11A are pushed or folded inwardly, as shown in Figure 2 therein. The base 1A remains static during all processes.

On further collapsing of the box sections 2, 5B, 7B 19, 14B and 21 fold inwardly, as shown in Figure 3, whilst further inward folding of side flaps 10B 11B, 12B and 13B continue, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 4 shows the box or carton fully collapsed or folded with the base 1C remaining static and outer side flaps 11C and 12 C fully flat in planar form.

The box or carton can be supplied, transported or stored in this flattened and folded form.

To use the box or carton these actions are reversed and all sections fold back again to a vertical limit, to become upright and erect for use.

The box has triangular sections 8, 9, 17 and 18, which are corner located when the box structure is erect, and each of them fold under outer side flaps 11 D and 12 D, which may be held with an adhesive, as shown in Figure 5.

All foldable and static sections are shown in Figure 6, as the primary numbering.

To provide a covering for the box or carton opening additional side flap extensions 22 and 23 may be provided, as shown in Figure 7.

The addition of holding areas or handles 24 may be provided in a preferred embodiment, also shown in Figure 7. These are used to hold the box during use and transit or carrying. In Figure 8, box A is slightly larger than a box B and thus may be slid over B in an upside down manner, with be being in an upright manner, thus A forms a closure over B, or lid.

Additional strength to the base 1 , not numbered in this Figure, is provided by inserting a suitable sized planar section 25 to thicken the base structure.

Claims

1) An instantly erecting and collapsing box wherein, a planar box precursor layout is formed of at least twenty one sections, sixteen of which are triangular and four being rectangular and a central square base, in a preferred embodiment, the base structure comprises a plurality of flaps and sections attaching directly or tentatively to the base area, to a form a plurality of exterior and interior surfaces which form structural panels when erected and held in place, these are then able to be instantly collapsed and erected at will, due to the inward tendency of the folding and scoring of the said panels, with all sections folding simultaneously due to this tendency of the folds to fall inwardly and the affixed side flaps holding four triangular sections between them in an affixed manner.

2) An instantly erecting and collapsing box as claimed in claim 1 ; is able to be constructed by the correct folding order of a myriad of triangular and rectangular sections, which instantly form a box or carton for various uses when erected and which may be laid flat in an instant.

3) An instantly erecting and collapsing box as claimed in claim 1 and 2 wherein, a box or carton is able to be erected and collapsed instantly due to side flaps trapping and holding four triangular cornered sections securely and in a none movable static nature, with aid of an adhesive method.

4) An instantly erecting and collapsing box as claimed in claims 1 , 2 and 3 wherein, a box is able to instantly erect and collapse due to the two groups of side flaps folding inward when force is applied to them and the four cornered triangular static sections that are held or trapped between the side flaps being extended from an inwardly foldable group of triangular end sections, which must therefore fold inwardly due to the linked and combined structure between their foldable nature and their attachment to the cornered triangular sections which move downwardly with the two side flap sections, as they are affixed to them.

5) An instantly erecting and collapsing box as claimed in claims 1 , 2, 3 and 4 wherein, a box may be instantly erected or collapsed due to the folding and holding nature of the boxes sectional construction and the fact that the sectional construction forms a single foldable box when erected, which is able to collapse and erect without further attendance, this action of erecting and collapsing may be continually repeated. 6) An instantly erecting and collapsing box wherein, the boxes may be formed in slightly ascending or descending sizes, to enable an upturned box to be placed over the top of a slightly smaller normally placed box, to form a closure over the smaller lower box, or to form a lid.

7) An instantly erecting and collapsing box wherein, additional side flaps may be provided to form a closable lid over the box opening.